Ground clearing fork for steam shovels and the like



Dec. 1", 1942. D, A wlLplAMs v2,303,4L

GROUND CLEARING FORK FOR STEAM SHOVELS AND'THE LIKE Filed Jn. s. 1940 ATTORNE Patented Dec. 1, 1942 GROUND CLEARING FORK FOR STEAM SHOVELS AND THE LIKE Dayton A. Williams, Tacoma, Wash.

Application January 3, 1940, Serial No. 312,217

4 Claims.

This invention relates to land clearing attach,- ments for use with the common types of power operated shovels, and it has reference more particularly to a novel form of fork, or rake, adapted to replace, or to be used forl land clearing operations interchangeably with the usual bucket or dipper on the dipper stick of the shovel. v

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a novel, practical and substantial form of device, referred to as a fork or rake, for use on the 'dipper stick of the ordinary type of power shovel in lieu of the usual dipper or bucket, and which may be applied to the stick without requiring any alteration thereof either in structure or mode of operation, for land clearing operations, such, for example, asv the raking or combing of rocks, stumps, brush or other debris from the ground surface and the pushing ofthe raked up material to the side of the line of advancement or ahead of the shovel.

More specically stated, the objects of the present invention reside in the provision of a ground clearing fork designed for ready attachment to the dipper stick of the ordinary types of power driven shovels, and comprising a frame structure that is substantially and rigidly braced,

and in such manner that the bracing is in the clear of the rake operations. Furthermore, to provide a rake on which there is a plurality of teeth, disposed at such angle with reference to the line of the stick that the usual scooping actionof the ordinary dipper is avoided and an eifective, thorough raking operation may be accomplishedby the normal actions oi the shovel boom and stick.

Other objects of the present invention reside in the details of construction and relationship of those parts embodied in the rake, and in the combination of the rake structure with the dipper stick for the specific purpose above stated. The invention particularly concerns the determination of the proper or most desirable angle of the teeth with reference to the direction of the dipper stick for avoiding a scooping action, and producing a satisfactory combing or raking operation.

vIn accomplishing the above stated and other vobjects of the present invention, I have provided ground clearing fork in accordance with'details 'of the present invention. f

y Fig. 2 is a front view of the fork Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 in Fig, 2, particularly illustrating the mounting of the fork teeth and the bracing of the frame structure.

Referring more in detail to the drawing- I designates what may be a steam shovel, or power operated shovel of the conventional present-day form of construction. The main frame structure of the shovel is mounted on a turn f .here shown, is longitudinally adjustable in a guide 1 that is pivoted on a support 8 which, in turn, is fixed on the boom. The stick 6, in this instance, is adapted to-be adjusted in the vertical plane of the boom from a substantially vertical position, to a substantially horizontally extended position, while the boom likewise is adjustable between substantially a vertical position to substantially a horizontal position; it being understood that the adjustment of these parts may be accomplished in the usual manner by means of cables and winding drums, already existing as operating parts of the steam shovel, and well known in the art, and which do not constitute a part of the present invention. and therefore will not be described in detail. f

The fork, or rake, embodied by this invention, is mounted at the lower end of the dipper stick and is applicable to the stick of the usual shovel upon removal of the dipper or bucket therefrom. In Fig. l, the rake is designated in its entirety by reference numeral 9.

Ihe present preferred construction of the fork,

or rake, is best illustrated in Figs. 2P and 3. It

comprises a flat base plate I 0 of rectangular form and extending the full width o-f the rake. Mounted on this plate, along its opposite side edges, and equally spacedbetween the side edges, are channel irons Il, each providing a mounting socket for a rake tooth I2. y

The channel irons Il have longitudinal edge iianges lla, which are welded or otherwise secured to the base plate l0, and they extend from flush with'the lower edge of the base plate, to near the upper edge, where they are joined to a cross web as presently explained.

Each tooth l2 comprises a straight shank por,- tion 12a of rectangular cross section, that has its upper end portion removably tted in one of the mounting sockets provided by the channels II. All teeth extend beyond the lower, transverse edge of the base plate, and each tooth terminates in a forwardly directed, pointed toe I2b. At their upper ends, the shanks are square cut and abut flatly against iron blocks I3 that are seated on the upper, closed ends of the channel sockets. I'he teeth are held in their respective sockets by means of bolts I5 that are extended through the guide channels and through the shanks of the teeth therein.

Welded to the base plate I0 transversely thereof and near the rear, and top edge of the plate I0, is a back plate 20. 'I'his back plate is somewhat rearwardly inclined relative tothe plane of the base plate I0, as noted in Fig. 3', and extends clear across the base plate. 'I'he rear'ends of the channels II are beveled to fit the inclined position of this plate and are welded thereto.

Disposed upon the base plate I0, perpendicularly thereto and parallel with the side edges, are two spaced web plates 2| and 2 I". These plates, as shown in Fig. 2, are substantially in alinement with the two inner teeth of the fork. The webs extend somewhat above the plane of the top surfaces of the channels II and are equipped with holes 22 in transverse alinement for reception of a bolt, as noted at 23 in Fig. 1, in mounting the rake on the dipper stick. These web plates 2l and 2| are braced against lateral forces by webs 24 which are welded to the base plate I0 along its top and rear edge, and extend from the webs 2I and 2I' outwardly to the side edges of the base. These webs 24 are inclined at an angle as shown in Fig. 3, toward the top edge of the cross plate 20. Bracing webs 25 are disposed between the outer end portions of the plate 20 and webs 24 to further strengthen and stiften the construction.

As noted in Fig. 3, the base plate I0 has supporting bridging, comprising flat, rectangular plates 26 and 21 which have edges Welded respectively to the top and lower edges of the base plate and have their other edges brought together and welded as at 28, to form a ridge. In cross section, the plates I9, 26 and 21 form a triangle of which the plate I0 comprises the long side. A web plate 30 extends transversely of the base plate, perpendicular thereto and has its lower edge welded in the joint of the plates 26 and 21, Also, webs 3| and 32 are inserted between the plates I0 and 21 and diagonal webs 34 and 34' extend from the medial portions of the plates 26 and 21 to the plate l0 along the joint with the web 30.

At the back of the frame thus provided are two vertical, spaced webs and 35', which are symmetrically located with reference to the center line of the rake and are alined with the mounting webs 2| and 2|'. The webs 35 and 35 are equipped with bearing portions 33 having upper and lower sets of openings 31 and 38 therethrough, for receiving mounting bolts whereby to attach the rake frame structure to the dipper stick. The webs 35 and 35' have lateral bracing as noted at in Fig. 3, and they are welded along their inner vertical edges to the back plate 26 of the bridging. It will be mentioned also that the bridging is further strengthened by the welding thereto of end plates, as at 4I in Fig. l.

In mounting the rake or fork on the dipper stick 6, as shown in Fig. l, the plane of the rake teeth, ralso of the base plate I0, preferably will be kept at a slight angle with and below the line of the dipper stick. 'I'his angle, which is designated as the angle S in Fig. 3, for most work, is kept near 10. However, it might vary from that degree anywhere from 20 above the line of the upper stick to 30 or 40 below the line of the stick. This angle provides that, in the normal use and operation of the stick, the teeth may be used to push or rake up trash ahead of the shovel, without having the usual scooping action, and to properly comb the ground.

By reference to Fig. 2, it will be observed that the teeth I2 and base plate I0 form what may be referred to as the base of the rake, while the cross plate 20 forms a back. In a forward raking action of the teeth, with the dipper stick in an upwardly directed position, the teeth and base will cause a very effective raking action.

Thus the device serves very effectively for its intended purpose, either in removing rock, stumps, brush or other debris. It is possible, if such use is desired, to extend the boom and stick so as to use the rake for a modified shoveling operation, or for lifting such objects as the stump shown in Fig. 1, out of the path of travel.

It is anticipated that rakes of this kind might be made in various ways different from that here shown and described. For example, it is possible to make a frame structure with integrally cast teeth. It is also possible to form a frame with teeth bolted or permanently xed therein without use of the channel members II. Also, chambers or sockets might be made in various ways for the removable mounting of rake teeth. ITherefore, it is not desired that the following claims be confined strictly to the structure illustrated, but that they be given an interpretation commensurate with the invention described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a shovel of the character described having a boom and a dipper stick mounted on the boom for actuation in the vertical plane of the boom; a ground clearing fork mounted on the lower end of the stick; said fork comprising a frame structure, a plurality of parallel socket forming members fixed in the frame, teeth mounted in said socket forming members and extended from the lower edge of the frame in the same plane and in the same general direction as the line of the dipper stick.

2. A land clearing fork for steam shovels and the like employing a dipper stick; said fork comprising a flat, rectangular plate, mounting devices xed to the plate at the upper edge for securing the plate to the dipper stick, a plurality of tooth mounting members fixed on the base plate in spaced relationship transversely thereof, ground raking teeth having shanks in said mounting members, and said teeth extending equally beyond the lower edge of said base plate and in a plane parallel to the base plate.

3. A land clearing fork for steam shovels and the like, equipped with a dipper stick; said fork comprising a flat rectangular plate, a back plate fixed transversely to and across the top edge of the base plate in an upright angle relative thereto, a plurality of channel members mounted on the base plate in parallel relation, and spaced apart transversely thereof, ground raking teeth having shanks removably mounted in said channel members and extending equally beyond the lower edge of the base plate, and mounting devices for the fork xed to the top edge of the base plate and to said back plate, and adapted plurality of parallel, spaced channel members se- 10 J cured to the top of the base plate and extending from its lower edge to the back plate; each forming a tooth mounting socket, ground raking teeth mounted in said sockets and extended equally beyond the lower edge of the base plate and,{in a plane parallel thereto, and spaced setsof `mounting plates xed to the base plate and back plate to extend beyond the upper edges of ,the

` base plate for attachment to a power shovel stick.

DAYTON A. WIILIAM S;1 

